Former Miss Venezuela and British husband shot dead in robbery

A former Miss Venezuela and her British expat husband have been shot dead in front of their five-year-old daughter during a botched roadside robbery.

Beauty queen Monica Spear Mootz, 29, and 39-year-old Thomas Berry were killed by an armed gang who attacked them on the Puerto Cabello to Valencia highway in Venezuela.

The gunmen fled and left the couple’s bodies in their vehicle with their daughter Maya. She was injured after being shot in the leg and remains in hospital under police protection.

Ms Spear and her London-based husband were attacked on Monday night while waiting for repairs after their 12-year-old Toyota Corolla broke down. The couple are thought to be separated but were on holiday together.

US-based Ms Spear was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2004 and later became a star in telenovelas – South America’s soap operas – in her home country. She was living in Miami, Florida.

Hundreds of fans have paid tribute to the star on her Instagram account, where she posted a video just six hours before her death.

The Foreign Office said it was aware of reports of the death of a British national and would offer assistance to the family.